After the death of their parents, Jane is taking care of her six siblings. Hard times had befallen the family and force them to scheme for a husband for Helen, the beauty of the family. A house party is just what they needed… Robert Asham, sixth earl of Markham is looking for a wife but has some very special notions about his future bride. A biddable, poor spinster is just what he wants and therefore he is not interested in Helen but her plain sister Jane. She would fulfil all his expectations for a wife but she is reluctant to accept his suit for the sake of her siblings. Will Robert convince her nonetheless? And if she accepts him, how will he cope with a big family thrown at his feet all at once?